‘Equitable restrooms’ bill advances in House
Bill calls for setting standards for multi-occupant, all-gender facilities.
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Community in uproar after board votes to temporarily close Wiley Elementary for asbestos abatement
URBANA – The Urbana School District 116 school board received significant backlash at its February 21 board meeting after voting to close Wiley Elementary School this coming summer to fix its asbestos problem. People gathered en masse dressed in red Wiley attire to speak out against this decision. Many spoke during the citizens comments…
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Tornado Watch now until 6pm for Central Illinois
The National Weather Service in Central Illinois has issued a Tornado Watch for Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, and Vermilion Counties until 6:00 p.m. CST. We will update this post with forecast updates. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri until 6 PM CST pic.twitter.com/4C8urqvwwT — NWS Lincoln…
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217 Today: Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen is ‘optimistic’ Congress can pass a new farm bill
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Today’s headlines: Governor J.B. Pritzker is joining 19 other Democratic governors in launching what they say is a non-partisan coalition to protect and expand reproductive rights. Remote work may offer rural America an opportunity to draw new residents who otherwise might not consider living there. During his state of the state…
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Rep. Sorensen ‘optimistic’ Congress can beat farm bill deadline
MOLINE — Congress has a tight deadline to approve a new farm bill. Central Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., is part of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee that recently reorganized at the start of the 118th Congress in late January. Listen to this story here. Sorensen said it will take compromise to meet the needs…
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Illinois food deserts grow as rural grocery stores close
CHAMPAIGN – Food deserts have long been associated with urban areas where full-service grocery stores are hard to find. But rural areas also struggle with a lack of access to fresh, affordable produce, despite often being surrounded by rich agricultural land. According to the Food Access Atlas, a map maintained by the USDA, dozens of…
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Illinois poised to mandate paid leave for nearly all workers
Expansive paid leave legislation requiring Illinois employers to give workers paid time off based on hours worked, to be used for any reason, is ready for action by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said he looks forward to signing it.
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Former US Rep. Adam Kinzinger to release book in October
The Open Field announced Tuesday that former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s “Renegade: My Life in Faith, the Military, and Defending America from Trump’s Attack on Democracy” is scheduled for on release Oct. 17.
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New law allows Illinoisans to change sex on birth certificate without doctor’s affirmation
Illinois becomes 12th state, 1st in Midwest, to allow self-attestation
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Sen. Paul Faraci discusses first month in office, Pritzker’s speech and more
URBANA — Paul Faraci has completed his first month as a state senator. The Champaign Democrat was appointed by party leadership in Champaign and Vermilion counties to replace his friend Scott Bennett, who died suddenly in December at the age of 45. Faraci says he’s enjoyed his new job despite the circumstances leading to his…
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217 Today: State Senator Paul Faraci talks about his first month in office
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Today’s headlines: Students at Parkland College will pay more for their classes starting this summer. The Urbana Park District is commemorating Black History Month with an “I Have a Dream” quilt. The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team topped Minnesota on Monday night in Champaign 78-69. In today’s deep dive, we’ll talk…
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Parkland raises tuition after end of COVID-19 relief
For the average Parkland College student taking classes full-time, tuition and student fee increases will add up to an additional $225 more a semester.
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Illinois deals Minnesota 10th straight defeat 78-69
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Matthew Mayer scored 22 points and Illinois handed Minnesota its 10th straight loss with a 78-69 victory on Monday night. Mayer made 7 of 14 shots with two 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds for the Fighting Illini (18-9, 9-7 Big Ten Conference), who snapped a two-game skid. Jayden Epps sank 4…
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Illinois governor moves to change agency name
Governor JB Pritzker has submitted an Executive Order to change the official name to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security.
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More bald eagles are nesting on the Illinois River. Here’s why that’s a good sign
Mike Miller has had his eagle eyes trained on the Illinois River Valley for a long time, and he says there’s a lot more of the national bird to see around these parts than in years’ past. The Peoria Park District supervisor of environmental and interpretive services and Community Word contributor has participated in the annual winter…
